Control of dynamo-electric machinery.



No. 706,723. Patented Aug. I2, |902.

E. B. CARICHUFF.

CONTROL 0F DYNAMD ELECTRIC MACHINERY.

l(Applicazon led Jan. 18, 1901.)

lill.,

Inventor UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EUGENE R. CARICHOFE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEIV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THESPRAGUE ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEIV JERSEY.

CONTROL OF DYNAlVlO-ELECTRIC MACHINERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,723, dated August12, 1902.

Application filed January 18, 1901. `Serial No. 43,729. (No modehl To @Mw/wm/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE R. CARIoHoEn, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of East Orange, in the county of Essex andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Control of Dynamo-Electric Machinery, of which the following is aspeciication.

My invention embraces the combination of 1o three switches-a arheostatic switch, h a pilot-switch, and c a motor-grouping switch-soconnected that the pilot-switch is operative in one position of therheostatic switch and the motor-grouping switch is operative in anotherposition of the rheostatic switch, provided, however, that thepilot-switch has first been operated, but not otherwise. The position ofthe rheostatic switch in which the pilot-switch is operative is where itadmits curzo rent through the motors, and the position of the rheostaticswitch in which the motorgrouping is operative is where the rheostaticswitch is in an open or high-resistance position. z5 ple switch alsop'artly control the operation of the rheostatic switch, as will behereinafter explained.

The invention consists in certainrother features hereinafterspecifically described and 3o claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of thisspecification, the figure is a diagrammatic representation of a pair ofmotors with switches and circuits for connecting the motors in seriesand in multiple and in varying the resistance, one form of my inventionbeing embodied in the system in this diagram.

The invention is primarily intended for op- 4o eration in connectionwithV what is known as the multiple-unit system of electric-railwayoperation, described and patented in United States Letters Patent toFrank J. Sprague, No. 660,065, to which reference may be had forfeatures not here disclosed. So much as is necessary to theunderstanding of my invention is here set forth.

It is to be understood that the invention is applicable to systems otherthan that de- 5o scribed in the patent to Frank J. Sprague referred to.

The pilot-switch and the series-multi! The motor-grouping switch is, asshown, a set of contacts for connecting the motors in series andmultiple. As shown, certain contacts in the circuit provided foroperating the motor-grouping switch are mounted upon the same cylinderas the contacts of the rheostatic switch. The cylinder with this doubleset of contacts,constituting what will be called the main switch, isdriven by a small mo- 6o tor called .a pilot-motor in the general mannerrepresented in the patent to Frank J. Sprague, above referred to. Thepilot-motor, however, is provided with only one iield instead of two, asin said patent, because the main cylinder is, as shown, revolved in onedirection only. The pilot-motor referred to is notto be confused withthe pilot-switch. The pilot-switch is, as shown, a solenoid whicheffects closure of a double set of con- 7o tacts, one set being in thecircuit of the series-multiple switch and the other set being in thecircuit of the pilot-motor.

The main motors are controlled from an operators or master switch partlythrough a set of relay-circuits. The master-switch is provided withreverser-contacts and speedcontacts for operating the main switch andthe motor-grouping switch. On closure of the master-switch the reverseris thrown in So the direction corresponding to the direction of movementvof the master-switch. The reversercontacts of the masterswitch areclosed in all closed positions of the masterswitch. Upon closure of thermaster-switch on the reverser and series contacts the circuit is closedthrough the operative coils of the reverser and the line-switch asfollows: from the line through contact-plates 2 and 3 of themaster-switch, through one coil or the 9o other 4: of the reverser,through contacts 5 on the reverser-cylinder, (shunted by a resistance,)and thence to ground Gr. Immediately afterward the circuit is closed atcontact 6 of the master-switch, thence through the coil 7 95 of theline-switch, Jthrough contact-plates S and D on the main-switch cylinderto ground at G. This actuates the line-switch, lifting` its plunger,breaking one pair of contacts 10, and establishing three other pairs ofcontacts roo 11, 12, and 13, as indicated.V As shown, the main circuitis established from the line l through the lowermost contacts 11 of thelineswitch, through resistance R', through the armature and iield of oneof the main motors A and reverser-contacts, through the lowermostcontacts 14, controlled by the coil 15 of the series-multiple switch,through resistance R2, and through the armature and eld of motor A2,reversercontacts, and throttlecoil 16 to ground G. This connects themotors in series with all the resistance in cir'- cuit. The motors willstart up. They will not reach more than a suitable speed for switchingpurposes, however, in this position of the apparatus. It will be obviousthat the main switch can be arranged to open circuit at this position bydropping out the righthand resistance-sections of R and R2, the otherresist-ances and contacts being suitably arranged. Upon further movementof the master-switch, so as to close on the full-series contact-point17, the circuit is completed through the pilot motor as follows: fromline through contacts 1 and 17 of the masterswitch, throughthrottle-contacts 18, through contacts l2 of the line-switch, throughcontacts 19 on the reverser-cylinder, through contact 20 on themain-switch cylinder, and thence through the pilot-moter P M to groundG. This will cause the main-switch cylinder to revolve until thepilot-motor circuitis broken at contacts 20 thereon. These contacts aretherefore called limit-contacts.7 In this position of the main switchand the other parts of the apparatus the motors are in what is calledfull series 7-that is, in series with all of the resistances R and R2cutout of circuit. If the master-switch be returned to the open position,the line-switch will drop and the pilot-motor circuit will be closedfrom the line through contacts 10, controlled by the line-switch,

through limit-contacts 21 on the main-switch cylinder, and thencethrough the pilot-motor P M to ground G. This will cause the main switchto move forward to the off position. Simultaneously with the dropping ofthe lineswitch plunger the main circuit will be opened at contacts 11,controlled by the line-switch. If, however, instead the master-switch bemoved on so as to close at the multiple contact 22, the circuit isestablished through the pilot-switch as follows: from the line l throughcontacts 2 and 22 of the masterswitch, through the pilot switch coil 23,through limit-contacts 24 and 9 on the main switch-cylinder,andthencetoground G. This will cause the pilot-switch to close at its two pairsof contacts 25 and 26, and a circuit will be established through thepilot-motor as follows: from the line 1 through the lowermost contacts25 of the pilot-switch, through the contacts 27 of the series-multipleswitch, through contact 2l of the main-switch cylinder, and thencethrough the pilot-motor P M to ground G. .This will cause themain-switch cylinder to be driven forward, and contact will be closedthrough the series -multiple switch-coil 15 as follows: from the line 1through contacts 2 and 22 of the masterswitch, through coil 15 of theseries-multiple switch,through contacts 26 of the pilot-switch, throughcontacts 2S and 9 on the main cylinder to ground. G. The series multipleswitch will thus be brought into position to connect the main motors Aand A2 and their resstances R R2 in circuit in multiple. The mainmotor-circuit is as follows: from the line through the lowerrnostcontacts 11 of the line-switch. Then branching to the two main motorsthe circuit is (a) through resistance R, motor A', including thereverser-contact, through a set of contacts 29, controlled by theseries-multiple switch, to ground G, and (b) through a set of contacts30, controlled by the series-multi ple switch, through resistance R2,through motor A2, including the reversercontacts and the coil 1G of thethrottle, to ground G. If the master-switch is moved further, so as toclose at the full-multiple contact 3l of the master-switch, the circuitis completed through the pilot-motor as follows: from the line 1 throughcontacts 2 and 31 of the master-switch, through throttle-contacts 18,through contacts 12 of the lineswitch, through contacts 19 on thereversercylinder, and thence through limit-contacts 2O and thepilot-motor P M to ground G. This willcause the main-switch cylinder torevolve until the pilot-motor circuit is broken at the limit-contacts20. In this position of the main switch and the other parts of theapparatus the motors are in full multiple-that is, in multiple with allresistance cut out. As shown, if the master-switch is opened at themultiple contact 22 the series-multiple switch is dropped, bringing themotors into series grouping without movement of the main-switchcylinder. vIt is obvious, however', that a circuit could be providedwhich shall be closed when the line-switch and the series-multipleswitch are both closed, which will cause the series-multiple switchwhenever lifted to remain up so long as the lineswitch remains closed.Opening the masterswitch releases they line-switch, the seriesmultipleswitch, and the reverser. This cuts off the motors from the line andcloses a local circuit through the pilot-motor as follows: from the linel through contacts 10 of the line-switch, through limit-contacts 2l, andthe pilot-motor to ground. There is also established in multiple withcontacts 10 a branch through contacts 32 on the reversercylinder.

Instead of having contacts 24 and 28 on the main cylinder whichdetermine the positions of the rheostatic switch in which thepilotswitch and the series-multiple switch can be operated, the samegeneral result may be attained as follows: There may be two coils in themain motor-circuit, one wound on the plunger of the pilot-switch inaddition to coil 23 (which latter would then be a retainingcoil and beconnected directly to ground) and the other opening contacts in serieswith con- IOO IIO

roar/23 Q tactsBG. In thisarrangementthepilot-switch can be operatedonly while the main circuit is closed, and the series-multiple switchcan be operated only while the pilot-switch is held closed by itsretaining-coil and the main circuit is open. This would be used with theopen-circuit arrangement of the rheostatic switch described above.

The system of control herein disclosed is applicable todynamo-electrical machinery generally. There are herein combined threeswitches, which, as shown, are respectively a rheostatic switch, apilot-switch, a seriesmu'ltiple switch, means controlled by one of theswitches,which, as shown, is the rheostatic switch, for operatinganother of the switches, which, as shown, is the pilot-switch, for thepilot-switch cannot be operated excepting when the circuit is closed atcontact 2i on the main-switch cylinder. There is also means controlledby these two switches for operating the third-namely, theseries-multiple switch-for this latter cannot be operated except whenthe pilot-switch is closed and to change the motor from series tomultiple the circuit is closed at contactQS on the mainswitch cylinder,and in certain conditions both the series-multiple switch andthepilotswitch control contacts which control the resistance-switch.1naster-switch for operating the system. It will also be evident thatthe pilot-switch can be operated only when the rheostatic switch is in aposition to admit current through the motors and the series-multipleswitch can be operated only when the rheostatic switch is in theopen-circuit or a high-resistance position. Since theresistance-contacts could be operated separately from the contacts ofthe main-switch cylinder which effect the coperation of the switches, Ido not limit myself to one of the switches included in the combinationdescribed in my broader claims, beinga resistance-switch, and thespecific fu nctions of the other` switches can be changed.

Numerous changes can be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Without limiting myself to the details shown, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In asystem of control of dynamo-electric machinery the combination ofthree switches, means controlled by one ot' the switches for operatinganother of the switches, and means controlled by these two switches foroperating the third switch, and means controlled by either of the otherswitches for operating the iirst, substantially as shown.

2. In asystem of control of dynamo-electric machinery the combination ofa rheostatic switch, a pilotswitch, a motor-grouping switch,meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch for operating the pilot-switch, andmeans controlled by the rheostatic switch and the pilot-switch foroperating the motorgrouping switch, substantially as described.

There is also provided a 3. In a system of control of electric motors,the combination of a rheostatic switch, a pilot-switch, a motor-groupingswitch, means controlled by the rheostatic switch for operating thepilot-switch, means controlled by the rheostatic switch and thepilot-switch for operating the motor-grouping switch, and meanscontrolled by the pilot-switch for operating the rheostatic switchsubstantially as described.

4L. In a system ot control of a pair of electric motors the combinationof a rheostatic switch,a pilot-switch,a series-multiple switch, meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch for operating the pilot-switch, andmeans controlled by the rheostatic switch and the pilotswitch foroperating the series multiple switch, to change the motors from seriesto multiple, substantially as described.

5. In a system of control of a pair of electric motors the combinationof a rheostatic switch,a pilotswitch,a series-multiple switch, meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch for operating the pilot-switch, sothat it can be operated only when the rheostatic switch is in positionto admit current to the motors, and means controlled bythe rheostaticswitch and the pilot-switch, for operating the seriesmultiple switch tochange the motors from series to multiple, which means can be operatedonly when the rheostatic switch is inthe open-circuit or ahigh-resistance position, substantially as described.

6. The combination ofthree switches,means controlled by one of the'switches for operating another of the switches, means controlled by thetwo for operating a third ofthe switches, means controlled by the secondswitch for operating the iirst of the switches, and a master-switch foroperating the system, substantially as described.

7. In a system of control of dynamo-electric machinery, the combinationof a rheostatic switch, a pilot-switch, a motor-grouping switch, meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch for operating the pilot-switch,means controlled by the rheostatic switch and the pilot-switch foroperating the motoigrouping switch, and a master-switch for operatingthe system, substantially as described.

8. In a system of control of electric motors, the combination of arheostatic switch, apilotswitch, a motor-grouping switch, meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch for operating the pilot-switch,meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch and the pilot-switch for operatingthe motor-grouping switch, and a master-switch for operating the system,substantially as described.

9. In a system of control of a pair of electric motors, the combinationof a rheostatic switch,apilot-switch,aseries-multipleswitch, meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch for operating the pilot-switch,means controlled by the rheostatic switch and the pilot-switch foroperating the series-multiple switch to IIO change the motors fromseries to multiple, and a master-switch for operating the system,substantially' as described.

10. In a system of control of a pair of electric motors the combinationof a rheostatic switch@ pilot-switch,a series-multiple switch, meanscontrolled by the rheostatic switch for operating the pilot-switch, sothat it can be operated only when the rheostatic switch is in a positionto admit current to the motors,

means controlled by the rheostatic switch and

